Offered in this lot is a unique piece of Montana and boxing history, a souvenir plate from the Dempsey-Gibbons Fight in Shelby Montana July 4, 1923. In 1922, oil was discovered in Shelby. Shelby town officials thought to make the city an economic and tourist center. The first stage on this plan, Dempsey vs. Gibbons fight, was to bring a fight for the world heavyweight boxing title to town. There were no television networks so whoever wanted to see the fight live would have to go to Shelby. Thinking patriotism would play a part in the promotion, the city chose July 4, the United States' independence day. Dempsey retained the title with a 15-round unanimous decision. A large arena, the size of a football field, had been built. Since most of Shelby's residents and those of nearby cities could not afford ticket prices set so that the city could come up with the money guaranteed to the participants, only 7,702 paying fans showed up, making the fight one of the biggest economical disasters in boxing history. An estimated 13,000 people got to see the fight free. Four banks in Shelby went bankrupt in the months following the fight. The town's dreams of prosperity went away with them. This plate was made to comemorate this event. The plate is made by D. E. Mc Nicol: East Liverpool.O. The plate has a scalloped edge and is painted with a soft green, orange, and yellow boarder around a scene of a house on a pond with ducks, trees and flowers. I gold lettering it reads Souvenir of Dempset-Gibbons Fight Shelby, Mont. July 4 1923. The plate is in very good condition and shows great crazing due to its age. The plate measures 9 1/4" across. Please see pictures for an accurate assessment of condition.